Cabinet assembly

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to cabinets and, more specifically, to cabinets made of plastic injection molded parts and that house electrical wiring.

Cabinet assemblies are well known in the consumer market, and, in general, are multi-piece structures consisting of one or more doors, a top, bottom, two sides, a rear wall, and one or more shelves. They are used for the storage of various items ranging from food and clothing to tools, etc. Historically, cabinet assemblies have been fabricated of some sort of wood product, either wood pieces themselves or high-density pressed wood type products that have a stained outer surface. Cabinets of this type are found in many areas of the home, such as the kitchen, laundry room, garage, etc.

Traditionally, electrical boxes have been located adjacent to cabinets for powering appliances and tools, controlling lighting, and providing connections to telephone and cable TV services. These conventional electrical boxes, made of plastic or metal, along with associated wiring, reside within and behind adjacent walls. The electrical boxes are typically mounted on metal or wooden wall studs above the countertops and, in some cases, are also provided above wall-mounted cabinets to facilitate the use of indirect lighting. All of the wire routing methods and electrical boxes that contain components such as switches and plug receptacles must meet regional requirements for safety that are generally specified by the National Electrical Code.

Prior art cabinets have been primarily designed as stand-alone building components for storage only. Electrical lighting fixtures, appliances, and other electrical products have been attached externally to either the bottom or top of cabinets in an effort to improve lighting or reduce countertop clutter.

The recent evolution of plastics has resulted in innovations in the fabrication of storage cabinets and bins. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,380 to Mottmiller et al. describes a plastic cabinet design in which a door hinge mechanism is integrated with top and bottom members and in which molded panel locking mechanisms facilitate easy assembly of the cabinet by the user.

A similar prior art general use plastic cabinet is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,553 to Cohen, in which separate molded top, bottom, back, and side members include internal and external webbing for added strength. Metal hinges are used to attach the door, and the remaining components are attached by a combination of attachment hardware and molded interlocks.

The need for housing electrical wiring and associated components, such as receptacles, switches, and lighting within a cabinet assembly has not been addressed in the prior art.

It would therefore be advantageous to provide a cabinet assembly that incorporates home electrical wiring, plug receptacles, switches, lighting, appliance holders, and other special features.

It would be further advantageous to provide a plastic primary cabinet structure having top, bottom, side, and rear panel members to thereby form a box-like cabinet.

It would be further advantageous to provide a primary plastic cabinet structure fabricated as either a single molded box-like structure or a combination of individual top, bottom, rear, front, and side members that are then bonded together.

It would be further advantageous to provide separate plastic primary wall mount and floor mount cabinet structures.

It would be further advantageous to provide a wall or floor mount cabinet assembly incorporating one or more integral electrical wire pathways, one or more electrical boxes, one or more electrical junction boxes, and one or more regions for lights and lighting components.

It would be further advantageous to provide a wall or floor mount cabinet assembly incorporating preformed injection molded electrical boxes, junction boxes, electrical pathways, and lighting regions for accepting commercially available plug receptacles, switches, and lighting.

It would be further advantageous to provide a wall or floor mount cabinet assembly incorporating appliances that may be attached to the bottom of a wall mount cabinet assembly or that may reside in the drawers or doors of a floor mount cabinet assembly.

It would be further advantageous to provide a wall or floor mount cabinet assembly incorporating dimensionally correct preset holes for door and door closure hardware mounting to thereby accommodate either wood or plastic doors that may be easily installed.

It would be further advantageous to provide an injection molded floor mount cabinet assembly incorporating preformed drawer tracks and an area for attaching a child safety lock.

It would be further advantageous to provide a cabinet assembly that accommodates the installation of bottom, top, and side plastic sheets that may be covered by wood veneer outer pieces or be replaced with wood panels, thus providing a wood finished outer appearance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is atop pictorial diagram of a fully assembled wall mount cabinet in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom pictorial diagram of the wall mount cabinet of FIG. <b>1</b>.

FIG. 3 is an assembly diagram of the wall mount cabinet of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a top pictorial diagram illustrating the primary cabinet structure of the wall mount cabinet of FIG. 1-3.

FIG. 5 is a bottom pictorial diagram illustrating the primary cabinet structure of FIG. <b>4</b>.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the top portion of the primary cabinet structure of FIG. <b>4</b>.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the bottom portion of the primary cabinet structure of FIG. <b>4</b>.

FIG. 8 is a top pictorial diagram of a fully assembled floor mount cabinet in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a bottom pictorial diagram of the fully assembled floor mount cabinet of FIG. <b>8</b>.

FIG. 10 is an assembly diagram of the floor mount cabinet of FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 11 is a pictorial diagram illustrating the primary cabinet structure of the floor mount cabinet of FIG. 8-10.

FIG. 12 is a pictorial diagram illustrating the primary cabinet structure of FIG. 11 in another view.

FIG. 13 is a pictorial diagram illustrating the top, left side, and rear portions of the primary cabinet structure of FIGS. 11 and 12.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged front elevation view of a portion of the fully assembled floor mount cabinet of FIG. <b>8</b>.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged pictorial diagram of the power strip assembly portion of the fully assembled floor mount cabinet of FIG. <b>8</b>.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a fully assembled wall mount cabinet <b>1</b> in accordance with the present invention. Wall mount cabinet <b>1</b> is constructed as a single primary box-like structure <b>2</b> that may be fabricated as a single injection molded structure or as a combination of side, top, bottom, and rear panels that are then connected together to form a rigid box structure. One or more doors <b>3</b>, that may be fabricated of wood or plastic, are attached to the primary structure <b>2</b> using commercially available hinges <b>4</b>. One or more shelves <b>5</b>, that may also be fabricated of wood or plastic, are supported by commercially available plastic or metal inserts <b>7</b> positioned in selected ones of a multiplicity of preformed molded holes <b>6</b>. Plastic or wood panels cover the top, bottom, and sides, as described hereinbelow.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown an assembly diagram of the wall mount cabinet <b>1</b> of FIGS. 1 and 2, which includes the primary structure <b>2</b> covered by plastic or wood side panels <b>9</b>, top and bottom panels <b>8</b>, and a rear panel <b>9</b>. Commercially available electrical receptacle covers <b>11</b> and switch plates <b>12</b> serve to cover one or more electrical boxes that are preformed in the top and bottom of the primary structure <b>2</b>, as described below.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, one or more electrical boxes <b>14</b>, electrical junction boxes <b>15</b>, electrical wire pathways <b>17</b>, and lighting component areas <b>16</b> are preformed in identical layouts in both the top and bottom of primary structure <b>2</b>. Lighting component areas <b>16</b> may house various fluorescent or low voltage lighting components. Structural webbing <b>13</b> and additional wire pathways <b>17</b> are provided on the sides and rear of primary structure <b>2</b> to aid the user during the initial installation and subsequent maintenance of electrical wiring. The top and bottom plastic covers <b>8</b>, illustrated in FIG. 3, are molded to cover the wire pathways <b>17</b> and junction boxes <b>15</b> in the top and bottom of the primary structure <b>2</b>, while leaving the electrical boxes <b>14</b> and lighting component areas <b>16</b> open to access by the user. The electrical receptacle covers <b>11</b> and switch plates <b>12</b> illustrated in FIG. 3 may be applied after electrical inspection and verification of the installation have been completed.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, there are shown enlarged views of the primary structure <b>2</b> of FIGS. 4 and 5. As stated above, the top and bottom of primary structure <b>2</b> are identical in layout and are preformed to provide the user with the ability to locate commercially available electrical plug receptacles, switches, lighting, cable TV jacks, phone jacks, etc., as well as nonmetallic sheathed wiring that interconnects these components within the confines of the top and bottom of the primary structure <b>2</b>. A total of six wire entrances <b>18</b> are provided, three in the top and three in the bottom, to allow the user to route wiring into the primary structure <b>2</b>. The wire pathways <b>17</b> within primary structure <b>2</b> permit the routing of wire to the electrical boxes <b>14</b> and/or the junction boxes <b>15</b>. Molded lips <b>21</b> having screw holes therein are provided within the wire pathways <b>17</b> located in the top and bottom of primary structure <b>2</b> to permit the user to clamp wiring as it is routed to the electrical boxes <b>14</b> and/or junction boxes <b>15</b>. Each of the preformed electrical boxes <b>14</b> and junction boxes <b>15</b> includes one or more designated punch-out areas <b>19</b> in side walls thereof through which wiring may be routed. Each of the preformed electrical boxes <b>14</b> includes preformed screw holes <b>20</b> located to accept commercially available switch and plug receptacles. Each of the junction boxes <b>15</b> also includes molded lips <b>21</b> that permit wiring routed therethrough to be clamped or held to the primary structure <b>2</b> before adding the top and bottom plastic covers <b>8</b>. The top and bottom covers <b>8</b> are mounted to the primary structure <b>2</b> using standard screws that are screwed into holes <b>22</b> provided in the corners of the primary structure <b>2</b>. Door hinges <b>4</b> are conventionally mounted over screw holes <b>23</b>.

Referring now variously to FIGS. 8-11, there is shown a fully assembled floor mount cabinet <b>25</b> having a pair of doors <b>27</b>. Like the wall mount cabinet <b>1</b> described above, floor mount cabinet <b>25</b> is constructed as a primary box-like structure <b>26</b> that may be fabricated as a single injection molded structure or as a combination of side, top, bottom, and rear panels that are then connected together. Unlike the wall mount cabinet <b>1</b>, all of the provisions for electrical wiring and components reside within an inner back wall of the floor mount cabinet <b>25</b>. Within the back wall are preformed regions containing electrical boxes <b>14</b>, junction boxes <b>15</b>, and wire pathways <b>17</b>. Doors <b>27</b>, which may be conventionally fabricated of wood or plastic, are attached to the primary structure <b>26</b> using conventional hinges <b>4</b>. One or more shelves <b>28</b>, that may also be fabricated of wood or plastic, are supported by commercially available plastic or metal inserts <b>7</b> that are positioned in selected ones of a multiplicity of preformed molded holes <b>6</b>. Molded plastic drawers <b>42</b> fit into the primary structure <b>26</b> by means of preformed molded roller guides <b>33</b> or roller guide holders. An inner roller guide member <b>41</b>, which may be a separate molded assembly, accommodates the inner roller guides <b>33</b> or roller guide holders. Like the primary structure <b>26</b> itself, drawers <b>42</b> are constructed from a primary basket molded structure including the preformed roller guides <b>33</b> or roller guide holders, thus allowing the front piece to be replaced by wood. An optional molded plastic power strip assembly <b>37</b> rests on a conventional countertop that is mounted on top of floor mount cabinet <b>25</b>. Power strip assembly <b>37</b> is positioned along the rear of floor mount cabinet <b>25</b> so as to be flush with the rear wall thereof and is attached thereto by means of a plurality of integral downwardly extending plastic protrusions <b>40</b> that fit into a corresponding plurality of slots <b>35</b> located on the top of the primary structure <b>26</b>. A multiplicity of holes <b>32</b> are provided along the periphery of the top of primary structure <b>26</b> for securing the conventional countertop thereto. If a more aesthetically pleasing appearance is required, plastic molded side panels <b>29</b> may be applied over the primary structure <b>26</b>. Alternatively, side panels <b>29</b> may be solid wood or wood veneer.

Referring now to FIG. 10, there is shown an assembly diagram of the floor mount cabinet <b>25</b> of FIGS. 8 and 9. Floor mount cabinet <b>25</b> includes the primary structure <b>26</b>, side panels <b>29</b>, a rear panel <b>30</b>, a plastic wire routing cover <b>36</b>, doors <b>27</b>, drawers <b>42</b>, shelf <b>28</b>, and power strip assembly <b>37</b>.

Referring now to FIGS. 11-13, there are shown pictorial diagrams of the primary structure <b>26</b> of floor mount cabinet <b>25</b>. As previously stated, primary structure <b>26</b> may be fabricated as a single injection molded piece or as a molded set of individual webbed top, bottom, rear, and side panels that, when connected together, provide a rigid box structure that houses preformed home/residential electrical components. Molded directly into primary structure <b>26</b> are one or more electrical boxes <b>14</b>, junction boxes <b>15</b>, wire pathways <b>17</b>, electrical wire entrances <b>18</b>, and lighting component areas <b>16</b>. Selected lighting components reside within the plastic roller guide assembly <b>41</b> that connects between the front and rears walls and provides the additional preformed roller or roller guide holders <b>33</b> for the drawers <b>42</b>. As shown in FIG. 11, the preformed areas that contain the electrical boxes <b>14</b> and junction boxes <b>15</b> are identical in layout and include a plastic lip <b>31</b> that provides a mounting surface for the wire routing cover <b>36</b> so that it fits flush with the rear wall of primary structure <b>26</b> to thereby enclose the wire pathways <b>17</b> and junction boxes <b>15</b>, leaving the electrical boxes <b>14</b> open for access thereto. Conventional electrical receptacle covers <b>11</b> and switch plates <b>12</b>, as illustrated in FIG. 8, may be applied after electrical inspection and verification of the installation have been completed.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 13, it may be seen that the that the wire entrances <b>18</b> reside on the left and right sides of the primary structure <b>26</b> and that the wire pathways <b>17</b> run from the bottom to each of the wiring regions that reside on the inner wall of the primary structure <b>26</b>. On the left and right hand sides thereof are additional wire pathways that allow wires to be routed through slots <b>35</b> and into the power strip assembly <b>37</b>. Structural webbing <b>13</b> throughout the sides and the rear of the primary structure <b>26</b> provides rigidity and strength.

Referring now to the more detailed pictorial diagram of FIG. 14, there are shown the electrical wire regions containing the preformed electrical boxes <b>14</b>, junction boxes <b>15</b>, and wire pathways <b>17</b>, as well as a wire clamping lip <b>21</b> and receptacle/switch plate mounting holes <b>20</b>.

Referring finally to FIG. 15, there are shown the details of the power strip assembly <b>37</b> of FIG. 10. A power strip primary structure <b>38</b> includes one or more preformed electrical boxes <b>14</b>, one or more junction boxes <b>15</b>, one or more wire pathways <b>17</b>, and a plurality of wire entrances <b>18</b>. The downwardly extending protrusions <b>40</b> of power strip primary structure <b>38</b> are hollow to provide additional wire pathways between the primary structure <b>26</b> of floor mount cabinet <b>25</b> and the power strip primary structure <b>38</b>.